Need Rehab?

Injuries are a part of football and can quickly derail a teams aspirations for the season. Same can be said for your fantasy football team. In some cases they can help as well - just ask anyone who picked up Larry Johnson last season when Priest Holmes went down. Players who are coming off injury are a risky proposition, but they can also come at a cheaper price when drafted in terms of value. Lets take a look at a number of players recovering from injuries heading into the 2006 season. We look at some of the bigger names and more serious injuries in more detail first.

Carson Palmer
QB - Bengals
Injury: torn ACL and MCL in left knee

Comments: Palmer was a top flight FF quarterback in 2006 and then the devastating injury on the first series in the Bengals first playoff game against the Steelers. Palmer also suffered a dislocated patellar or kneecap and had some cartilage damage - ouch! The ACL injury alone has about a nine month recovery period putting him healthy sometime in October although the Bengals are saying he will be ready for the opener. Expect his mobility to be limited, but his upside is so high he is still worth of a high pick.

Dante Culpepper
QB - Dolphins
Injury: torn ACL, PCL, and MCL in right knee

Comments: Without Randy Moss in Vikings land Culpepper was struggling greatly before the injury in November. Dante had successful surgery to repair all three torn ligaments later that moth. Culpepper should be back by the season opener but won't be close to 100% until the end of the season. For a player who relies so much on his scrambling ability, this is of concern. In addition, Culpepper is learning a new offense and Miami had enough concern to sign former Lions QB Joey Harrington as a Plan B. Unless you can get Culpepper late in the draft, let someone else take the risk.

Drew Brees
QB - Saints
Injury: torn Labrin or should socket cartilage

Comments: In the final regular season game for the Chargers Brees tore up his should diving for a touchdown - bad break. Shoulders are very difficult to recover from - just ask Chad Pennington. Brees was throwing shortly after the draft, but he will still struggle with the passes that require arm strength once the season rolls around. The Saints were confident enough to sign Brees as a free agent, or was it the Chargers who weren't confident enough that they decided to let him go? Like Culpepper, besides recovering Brees is also learning a new offense so let someone else grab him in your league.

Ben Rothlisberger
QB - Steelers
Injury: head injuries and bruised ego

Comments: Wear your helmet stupid - what else can you say to the SuperBowl winning quarterback? He is scheduled to be ready for the Steelers exhibition opener and his injuries do not look to change his 2006 production output much if at all. Still Big Ben looks more suited for a number two quarterback in FF than the go to guy under center for most teams while playing in Cowher's run oriented offense.

Ahman Green
RB - Packers
Injury: ruptured right quadriceps tendon

Comments: This type of injury generall takes as long to recover as a torn ACL. Since his surgery was last October he looks like he should be close to fully recovered by Green Bays season opener. He could be recovering through much of training camp and with two rookie guards possibly starting and competition from Najeh Davenport and Samkon Gado he looks like a risk. At 29, Green is close to the age that most running backs start to decline and considering his very heavy workloads in the past that could catch up with him as well.

Duece McAllister
RB - Saints
Injury: torn ACL

Comments: The Duece had his ACL surgery last November and should be ready to put on his pads in September. But New Orleans used their top pick on a guy named Reggie Bush so expect the Saints to ease McAllister back into the lineup. With Bush in the picture be very cautious with McAllister.

DeShaun Foster
RB - Panthers
Injury: broken ankle

Comments: Foster broke his ankle in the playoffs. A broken ankle often heels quicker than a severe sprain so he should be back to 100%. Then again DeShaun is always injured and the Panthers took DeAngelo Williams in the draft and he will get his fair share of carries even when Foster is healthy.

Braylon Edwards
WR - Browns
Injury: torn ACL

Comments: The former University of Michigan standout tore his right ACL in December of his rookie season and had surgery in early 2006. Look for him to return some point after the season begins and to still be recovering once he does. He will miss a good portion of his speed when he first returns.

Kellen Winslow
TE - Browns
Injury: you name it

Comments: Big Ben isn't the only one coming back from a motorcyle accident. Remember the guy the Lions let the Browns pick when they moved down one spot and took Roy Williams? He's back. Winslow suffered a multitude of injuries while showing off on his bike including a torn ACL, fracture right femer, lacerated kidney and lacerated liver. How is that for fun. He is probably off most guys radar and could be worth a look late in the draft along with a lot of other young talented tight ends in this years FF draft.

OTHER NOTEABLE BUT LESS SERIOUS 2005 INJURIES:

Kevin Barlow - RB 49ers - Knee
Mark Bradley - WR Bears - Knee/ACL
Kerry Colbert - WR Panthers - Ankle
Ronald Curry - WR Raiders - Achilles
Najeh Davenport - RB Packers - Ankle
Dominick Davis - RB Texans - Knee
Frank Gore - RB 49ers - Shoulder
Darrell Jackson - WR Seahawks - Knee
Rudi Johnson - RB Bengals - Knee
Brandon Jones - WR Titans - Knee/ACL
Curtis Martin - RB Jets - Knee
Chris Perry - RB Bengals - Knee
Todd Pinkston - WR Eagles - Knee/ACL
Donte Stallworth - WR Saints - Shoulder
Troy Williamson - WR Vikings - Hip